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Chapter XI: Astral Heavens and Hells2225
more or less than a discipline which should encourage the unfoldment of
the “good” qualities of the soul, and the smothering of the “evil” ones. And
this is just what the advanced occultist does find to exist on the Astral Plane.
In this connection, it must be remembered that the discipline which
would appeal most to the soul of lowly ideals, would be without avail in the
case of the cultured soul—and vice versa. In short, it may truthfully be said
that the nature of the appropriate discipline in each individual case is well
expressed by the ideal of heaven and hell entertained by the individual
in earth-life, and which ideal, of course, remains with the soul after it has
passed from the body to the Astral Plane. The mind of certain individuals
is fully satisfied with the ideals of a lake of brimstone for sinners, and the
pleasant abode in a golden-streeted heaven, with accompaniments of harp
and crown, for the blessed. Others, far advanced beyond this stage, having
left behind them the old ideas of a heaven in space and a hell of torment,
think that the greatest happiness possible to themselves would be a state or
condition in which they could see their ideals made real, their highest aims
realized, their dreams come true; and their greatest punishment a condition
in which they could follow up to its logical result the evil they have done.
And, both of these classes of souls find on the Astral Plane the heavens and
hells of which they have thought—for both have created their heaven or
hell from the material of their own inner consciousness. And such mental
conceptions lack nothing of reality to those who are conscious of them—
the joy and suffering lose nothing of effect by reason of the absence of the
physical body.
On the Astral Plane, the “sinner” who believes in a hell of brimstone and
flames, which awaits him by reason of the foul crimes done in his days of
nature,” is not disappointed. His beliefs supply the necessary environment,
and his conscience condemns him to the punishment in which he believes.
Even if he has sought to disbelieve these things by the use of his reason,
and still retains the subconscious memories of his childhood teachings or
the traditions of his race, he will find himself in the same condition. He